Device for controlling carburetors of internal combustion engines in aircraft



July 9, 1940. R, TAMP|ER 2,207,386

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING CARBURETORS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES INAIRCRAFT 7 Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 Fig. 3.

July 9, 1940. R. TAMPIER DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING CARBURETORS OF INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES IN AIRCRAFT Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 9, 1 940 2,207,386 -UNlTED STATES PATENT orries" DEVICEFOR CONTROLLING OABBUBETOBS .OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES IN AIRCRAFTItem: Tampier, lioulognc-sur-Seine,

Application June 25, 1938, Scrial No. 215,937 I in Great Britain July 6,193-1 7'. Claims. This invention relates to a device for control lingcarburetors of internal combustion engines in aircraft.

Itis necessary in connection with aircraft eninto operation to lock themixture-control memher in a predetermined relative position of thethrottle and mixture members, means operable by movement of the throttlecontrol member for the latter is in said locked position, .altemativewith which'the free end of the plungerl, promeans operated independentlyof said throttle vided with a conical end, is free to engage. Thecontrol member for unlocking the mixture conlarger tube is adapted tocontain a coiled spring trol member in said locked position and comprisi4, one end thereof being arranged to bear 55 ing a member slidablymounted relatively to-the against an abutment i5 flxed'relatively to the55 mixture control member, and adapted to act end of the box I by a pinl6 passing through directly on the spring-pressed catch, and springlongitudinally disposed slots provided in the tube means forautomatically returning the mixture and the other end againstan abutmentll fixed control member when it is unlocked, into its secto the tube 4,which abutment is provided, on

and operating position.- I w I unlocking the mixture control memberwhen.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate this invention- Figures 1,2 and 3 are sectional side elevations showing diagrammatically oneembodimentwith composed of a tube 4 within which istelescopically'arranged a smaller tube II, the outer end of which isconnected to the mixture lever. The larger tube 4 is provided with anaperture l2 and a conical recess suitably spaced apart the opposite faceto that against which the ii glues to provide means for preventing thepilot, the parts in different positions as hereinafter de- 5 whenlanding, from closing the throttle of the scribed; carburetor withoutenriching his mixture of petrol Figure 4 is a view, similar tothe'preceding figand air, for which purpose it has been proposed tovures, of a modification with the parts in the poprovide means forinterconnecting the handles sition corresponding to Figure 1, and,

1 of the control levers so that the mixture lever Figures 5 and 6 areside elevations showing an- 10 is brought back with thethrottie lever.other embodiment with the levers in a position Further, for the purposeof being able to supcorresponding to that of Figure 1 and to that of plya very rich mixture in case of emergency Figure 2 respectively, and,

a when the throttle is fully open, means have been Figure 7 is an endelevation of Figure 5. -added to the interconnecting means above re-Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the device ferred to, adapted to pushthe mixture lever back (which will be described as being disposed horitothe "rich position in an opposite direction. zontally) comprises abox-like structure I, the

The foregoing arrangement is open to the obend plates 2, 2 of which areeach furnished with j'ection that one of the handles moving through twobearings in and through which two spindles a small angle has sometimesto move a second 3, 4 (hereinafter referred to as the throttle spin- 20handle through a larger angle, and the effort indie and the mixturespindle respectively) disposed creases, to great proportions. V parallelwith each other, are adapted 'toslide;

On some carburetors the mixture lever has The throttle spindle 3 isround in cross section only two positions, one for the provision of a atits ends where it slides in the end bearings,

rich mixture and the other for a weak mixture. but its middle portion isreduced in size and is 5 This is usually effected by the opening and orcut away on one face. to form a recess 5 with closing of taps. inclinedon ramp ends while that part of said The above named arrangement,however, is spindle opposite said recess is cut away to form a open tocertain objections, *for although means recess 6 of slightly greaterlength provided with have been provided for indicating to the pilotsquare ends. A plunger I is secured in the mid- .30

. the correct movements to be made, it is possible die of the box, theaxis of said plunger being disfor the lever to be left inadvertently ina dead posed at right angles to the axis of the spindles; positionbetween the open and 'closed position one end of said plunger may befork-shaped and of the taps. the reduced part of the throttle spindle 3is ar- The object of the present invention is to proranged to slidebetween the two legs, a pin or 5 vide means for overcoming theseobjections. roller 0 being secured across the open end of Withthisobject in'view according, to the presthe fork, which pin or rolleris adapted to bear ent invention a control device for carburetors of onthat face of the spin having he recess 5 internal combustion enginescomprises a mixwith the angularly disposed ends.- The oppo- 40 turecontrol member having two operating posisite end of the plunger isprovided with a collar 40 tions, a throttle control member movable inde-0r enlarged head-9 between which and the fixed pendently of the mixturecontrol member, means part in which said plunger is slidably mounted,for locking themixture control member in at is a coiled spring it whichserves to maintain the least one of its operating positions, said meanspin or roller 3 in contact with the adjacent face comprising aspring-pressed catch which comes of the throttle spindle. The mixturespindle is 5 spring bears, with a longitudinally disposed spindle ill ofreduced diameter, which is adapted to slide in the inner end of thesmaller tube II, the extreme end of said spindle being provided with anenlarged collar IS. The inner end of the smaller tube II is providedwith a conical portion adapted to coact with the conical end of thetransversely disposed plunger 1 when the latter has entered the apertureI21 in the larger tube.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming the throttle and mixture levers are at the left-hand side ofthe box I and that both spindles are also in their extreme left-handpositions as shown in Figure 1, the throttle lever is in the closedposition and the mixture lever in the normal position with the spring I4in the mixture spindle fully expanded. The pin or roller 8 on thetransverse plunger 1 is resting on the higher portion of the throttlespindle 3 on the right of the recess 5 with the inclined ends while thelower conical end thereof is engaging in the conical recess l3 in thetube of the mixture spindle, which recess is of smaller diameter thanthe aperture l2 on the left. This is a suitable position for the partswhen landing the aircraft, and in this position it is impossible tomovethe mixture spindle 4 as the plunger 1, by reason of the position ofthe throttle spindle, cannot rise. For cruising purposes the throttlelever is actuated to move the spindle-3 to the right into itsmid-position shown in Figure 2 so that the pin or roller 8 on theplunger is caused to enter the recess 5 in said spindle. As in thisposition the plunger 1 is capable of being pushed upwardly owing totherecess 6, the mixture spindle may now be moved to the right until thelower end of the plunger 1 enters the'aperture l2 in the tube with thespring l4 therein fully compressed and the conical part 20 of the pistonon the end of the ,small'tube ll disposed to the right of the conicalend of the plunger as shown,in Figure 2. If the throttle lever is nowmoved still further to the right the plunger 1 is raised by the inclinedend of the recess 5 and under the load of the spring l4 the edge of theaperture l2 forces the conical end of the plunger 1 completely out ofthe tube which thereupon returns automatically to its normal positionshown in Figure 3. Should this sequence not take place with sumcientspeed due to friction in the parts connected thereto and to thecarburetor, or if the pilot has to move his mixture lever to the otherposition, he can himself effect the same result by moving the handleattached to the mixture spindle. "In this case the small tube H iscaused to move to the left without moving the large tube -4, the latterbeing locked by the plunger 1, and the conical part 20 on the'end;thereof forces the end of the plunger outwardly, thereby releasing theparts as above described.- The larger tube will be pushed in the samedirection-as the small one by the spring l4.

For maximum cruising speed to take off, the mixture spindle being in itsextreme left-handOr normal position, the throttle spindle 3 is pushedstill further to the right into the open position as shown in Figure 3.In this position of the spindlesas the portion of the plunger I at thelower ends of the forks is resting on the lowest portion of the spindleI on the left of the recess 6, the plunger cannot rise and the lower endthereof is engaging with the conical recess l3 in the tube of .themixture spindle which is thereby locked in this positionas shown -in'Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 4 the recess 8 in the throttle spindle shown inFigures 1 to 3 is eliminated and the larger tube 4 of the telescopicmembers of the mixture spindle is furnished with only one aperture I2with which the free end. of the I plunger 1 is adapted to engage. Theplunger intube 4 of the mixture spindle.

The operation of the device as above described is as follows:

Assuming the throttle and mixture levers are at the left-hand side ofthe box I and that both spindles are also in their extreme left-handpositions as shown in Figure 4, the throttle lever will be in the closedposition and the mixture lever in the normal position with the spring I4in said spindle fully expanded. The free end of the plunger 1 will beresting against the outer face of the tube 4, the pin or roller 8 ofsaid plunger being held just out of contact with the throttle spindle 3on the right of the recess 5.

In this position it is possible to move the mixture spindle through itscomplete range, but it cannot be left in the weak position by the pilotasthe plunger I is held back from engagement with the aperture l2 by thethrottle spindle 3 and the returning action of the compression spring 14will return it to the normal position. If the mixture lever is not movedfrom the extreme left-hand position it is possible to move the throttlespindle 3 through its complete range of movement without afl'ecting theposition of the plunger 1. If, however, the throttle spindle is moved toits mid-position so that the pin or roller 8 on the plunger is free toenter the recess 5 in the spindle and the mixture spindle is also movedto the right, then when the aperture l2 in. the tube '4 of themixture-spindle coincides with the plunger 7, the latter will enter theaperture and will be held until disengaged by. the conical member .20inside the mixture spindle or by further movement of the throttlespindle. This simplification prevents the plunger 1 from being jammedbetween the two spindles if the throttle spindle is moved faster thanthe mixture spindle when it is returned by the com-. pressed spring l4.

In the modification shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, 2| is the mixturelever, 22 the throttle lever, the

.former of which is controlled by a spring 22.

The mixture lever 2| is provided with a spring controlled slidablemember 24 furnished at its lower end with a laterally disposed roller25, and at its upper'end with a knob 26. The throttle lever is providedwith a cam member 2'! having a recess 28 with which the roller 25co-operates. The movement of the mixture lever 2| to the weak positionshown in Figure 6 is limited by a stop 29 having a recess 20 with whicha catch 2| on the slidable member 24 is adapted to engage.

In-Figure 5 the throttle lever is in the closed position and the mixturelever is in the normal position, and in Figure 6 the mixture lever'is inthe weak position and the throttle lever in the cruisin position. In theposition of the parts as shown in Figure 6 the roller 25 is disposed inthe recess 28 in the cam plate 21, thus permitting the slide. 24 to moveupwards and bring the catch 3| thereon into engagement with.the re-.

the throttle lever is permitted to have a small movement correspondingto the extent by which the length of the recess 28 exceeds the diameterof the roller 25. It will be seen that in any other relative positionsof the mixture and throttle levers the same plate will co-operate withthe roller to prevent the locking of the mixture lever. The mixturelever may also be released from the weak position by depressing the knob26 on the slidable member 24 of the mixture lever.

What I claim is:

1. A device for controlling carburetors of internal combustion engines,comprising throttle and mixture levers in combination with a springcontrolled slidable catch member carried by the mixture lever, a stophaving a recess with which said catch is adapted to' engage, a laterallydisposed roller on said member, and a cam member on the throttle lever,said cam member having a recess with which said roller co-operates sothat the catch can engage with its recess to lock the mixture'lever whenthe twolevers occupy a predetermined relative position.

2. A control device for carburetors of internal combustion enginescomprising a mixture control member having two operating positions, athrottle control member movable independently of the mixture controlmember, means for locking the mixture control member in at least one ofits operating positions, said means comprising a spring-pressed catchwhich comes into operation to. lock the mixture control member in apredetermined relative position of the throttle and mixture members,means operable by movement of the throttle control member for unlockingthe mixture control member when the latter is in said locked position,alternative means operatedindependently of said throttle control memberfor unlocking the mixture control member in said locked position andcomprising a member slidably mounted relatively to the mixture controlmember, and adapted to act directly on the spring-pressed catch, andspring means for automatically returning the mixture control member whenit is unlocked, into its second opcrating position.

3. A control device according to claim 2 where- I in the spring-pressedcatch comprises a springpressed bolt, said-throttle control member beingprovided with at least one recess in its surface and being mounted forsliding through said bolt,

the mixture control member extending parallel to the'throttle controlmember and having an.

aperture which, in'one operating position of the mixture control memberis directly below said bolt, the arrangement being such that when themixture control member is in the said one operating position and therecess in the throttle control member is in line with said aperture inthe mixture control member, the bolt' is 'free to move under the actionof its spring to engage the aperture in the mixture control member.

4. A control device according to claim 2 wherein the spring-press catchcomprises a springpressed bolt, the said throttle control member beingprovided with at least one recess in its surface and being mounted forsliding through said bolt, the mixture control member extruding parallelto the throttle control member and having an aperture which, in oneoperating position of the mixture control member is directly below saidbolt, the arrangement being such that when the mixture control member isin the said one operating position and the recess in the throttle con-*trol member is in line with said aperture in the mixture control member,the bolt is free to move under the action of its spring to engage theaperture in the mixture control member, and the means operable bymovement of the throttle control member for unlocking the mixturecontrol member comprises raised surfaces on each side of the recess inthe throttle control member, acting, when the said member is movedaxially, to raise the bolt out of engagement with the aperture in the.mixture control member; whereupon the latter member is returned by aspring to its other operating position.

5. A control device according to claim 2 wherein the spring-pressedcatch comprises a springpressed bolt, said throttle control member being.provided with at least one recess in its surface and being mounted forsliding through said bolt, the mixture control member extending parallelto the throttle control member and comprising two telescopic'members,the inner member being connected to the mixture lever and the outermember formed with an aperture which, in one operating position of themixture control member, is directly below said bolt, the arrangementbeing such that when the mixture control member is in the said oneoperating position and the recess in the throttle control member is inline with said aperture in the mixture control member, the bolt is freetoto act directly on the said bolt and press it' out- J wardly againstits spring.

6. A control according to claim 2 wherein the said means for locking themixture control member are effective in two operating positions, thesaid mixture control member having two apertures arranged respectivelyto be engaged by the spring-pressed catch in the two operating positionsof the mixture control member.

7. A control device according to claim 2 wherein the spring-pressedcatch comprises a springpressed bolt and the mixture control memberextends parallel to the throttle control member and comprises twotelescopic members, the in,- ner member-being connected to the mixturecontrol lever and the outer member formed with two apertures adapted tobe engaged respectively by the spring-pressed bolt in the two operatingpositions of the mixture control member, the said inner member beingarranged for direct operation by the operatorto disengage thespringpressed bolt from one of said apertures, thereby allowing themixture control member to be moved automatically by the spring means toits other operating position.

RENE Tammi...

